Bill Barnwell reviews the free agency goings on in the AFC East. In a nutshell, the Bills have gotten worse, the Patriots have gotten better, and the Dolphins and Jets merit Incompletes. Plus, see why the Patriots won't draft Paul Posluszny, and who might take a local college star, in the tradition of the early days of the draft.

Guest columnist Jeff Bathurst drops in to review the AFC West in the calm before the draft's storm. He finds skeptics about the Broncos' biggest new additions, the Chiefs getting fired up for preseason, and the Raiders preparing for life with their latest boy genius coach. And can the Chargers possibly have a better season this year than last?

Brandon Jacobs and Kevin Curtis were great in specialized roles, but can they succeed with more playing time? Fred Smoot sucked with more playing time, but can he succeed in a specialized role? Plus: Does the attention-hogging Terrell Owens read his playbook, and is he offended that we did not mention him until the third sentence of this intro to the latest Four Downs?

The latest Four Downs is all about appreciation. Doug Farrar appreciates the Hall of Fame career of Marshall Faulk as well as the new and improved front offices in Arizona and San Francisco. Most importantly, as a Seahawks fan, Doug appreciates the decision to let Jerramy Stevens leave Seattle.

It has been an exciting free agent period in the NFC North. The division has added consistent performers -- like Adam Archuleta, T.J. Duckett, Frank Walker, and Visanthe Shiancoe. Learn why the Bears should extend Lance Briggs, why Randy Moss is in decline, and why FO, possibly for the first time ever, has nice things to say about off-season moves in Detroit.

The free agent carousel is turning in the NFC South. June is busting out all over in Tampa, Patrick Kerney ditches Atlanta for a real nice clambake in Seattle, and Joe Horn blows high and blows low before blowing out of New Orleans. What's the use of wonderin' if the Panthers will make any moves when they are so low on cap space? You never walk alone when Mike Tanier breaks down the free agent action.

Aaron Schatz finishes off the first round of 2007 Four Downs with Jack Del Rio's thoughts on consistency, Houston's equivocation on David Carr, and Indy's chances of repeating. Plus: Whose responsibility is it to discipline Pac-Man Jones, really?

It's time for goodbyes in the AFC North. Goodbye to Eric Steinbach, to Adalius Thomas, and to Ken Whisenhunt. Goodbye, unfortunately, to LeCharles Bentley. Goodbye to Jamal Lewis? Perhaps not. Guest columnist Jeff Bathurst sits in to bring us the latest from the NFL's industrial belt.

The NFC North had three of the top six defenses last season, and now it has three new defensive coordinators. What does this say about the Bob Sanders you've never heard of? Plus: All the teams are loaded with cap room, but is there anyone out there to spend it on?